ISLAMABAD: US blogger Cynthia D Ritchie on Monday sought unfreezing of her bank accounts citing acute financial constraints.

Her counsel filed an application before IHC Justice Aamer Farooq seeking court direction to unfreeze her bank account.

The court was hearing the case related to deportation of Cynthia since the interior ministry has pointed out gross violations in issuance of business visa to her.

IHC Justice Aamer Farooq heard the case. He extended the interior ministry’s order to deport the blogger till next week.

Cynthia’s counsel Ahmed Raza Kasuri argued that the US blogger wanted registration of criminal case against former interior minister Rehman Malik for raping her about a decade back.

The court, however, decided to hear the petitions of Malik and Cynthia simultaneously. Both have petitioned to register cases against each other.

Justice Farooq also asked the counsel for both the parties to wait for the interior ministry’s reply in the case related to deport Cynthia.

Earlier, in September the ministry of interior (MOI) issued an order for deportation of Cynthia citing various procedure lapses in issuance of business visa to her.

On Sept 5, the American blogger filed an application in the IHC challenging the interior ministry’s decision to deny her a visa extension.

The US blogger made the interior secretary and FIA DG parties in the case, and stated that she had provided all documents related to her visa application to the ministry.

She maintained that the interior ministry did not listen to her stance, nor did it mention any reason for denying her extension in the visa.

She said it was her legal right that the ministry listens to her point of view before announcing the decision.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2020